Hurricane Matthew weaker, but still powerful category 3 storm

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RICHMOND, Va. -- Hurricane Matthew spent Thursday into Friday traveling up the eastern coast of Florida. The strongest winds, located in the "eye wall" around the center of the hurricane, have remained just offshore for most of the track thus far. The maximum sustained winds have dropped to 115 mph, but it is still a powerful category 3 hurricane.

The forecast track continues to move the storm up near the Georgia and South Carolina coasts over the weekend. After reaching southern North Carolina, the storm should then move more out sea. The computer models continue with the circular track forecast. If it does loop back towards Florida, it would be a weaker area of low pressure.

Due to the proximity of the storm off the Mid-Atlantic coast for the next few days, heavy rainfall will affect Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and far southeastern Virginia.

In Virginia, moisture and rain from Matthew will be drawn up ahead a cold front, which will pass through the area on Saturday.

Rainfall totals over 1" will be possible in the metro, but sections of far southeastern Virginia may pick up in excess of 4" of rain.

Wind gusts will be strongest near Hampton Roads, and minor coastal flooding will be possible from Virginia Beach up through the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. Water levels may be 1 to 3 feet above normal during high tide cycles.

Additional information can be found in the CBS 6 Hurricane Tracker. Tropical Storm Nicole is located east of the Bahamas and south of Bermuda. That storm will be fairly stationary through Monday, then track northward towards Bermuda.